scholarly journals The Automatic Assessment of Strength and Mobility in Older Adults: A Test-Retest Reliability Study

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Collado-Mateo ◽  
Pedro Madeira ◽  
Francisco J. Dominguez-Muñoz ◽  
Santos Villafaina ◽  
Pablo Tomas-Carus ◽  
...  

Background: Simple field tests such as the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and 30 s Chair Stand test are commonly used to evaluate physical function in the elderly, providing crude outcome measures. Using an automatic chronometer, it is possible to obtain additional kinematic parameters that may lead to obtaining extra information and drawing further conclusions. However, there is a lack of studies that evaluate the test-retest reliability of these parameters, which may help to judge and interpret changes caused by an intervention or differences between populations. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and 30 s Chair Stand test in healthy older adults. Methods: A total of 99 healthy older adults participated in this cross-sectional study. The TUG and the 30 s Chair Stand test were performed five times and twice, respectively, using an automatic chronometer. The sit-to-stand-to-sit cycle from the 30 s Chair Stand test was divided into two phases. Results: Overall, reliability for the 30 s Chair Stand test was good for almost each variable (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) >0.70). Furthermore, the use of an automatic chronometer improved the reliability for the TUG (ICC >0.86 for a manual chronometer and ICC >0.88 for an automatic chronometer). Conclusions: The TUG and the 30 s Chair Stand test are reliable in older adults. The use of an automatic chronometer in the TUG is strongly recommended as it increased the reliability of the test. This device enables researchers to obtain relevant and reliable data from the 30 s Chair Stand test, such as the duration of the sit-to-stand-to-sit cycles and phases.

Author(s):  
Juan Luis Leon-Llamas ◽  
Santos Villafaina ◽  
Alvaro Murillo-Garcia ◽  
Daniel Collado-Mateo ◽  
Francisco Javier Domínguez-Muñoz ◽  
...  

The present study aimed to: (1) analyze the test–retest reliability of the 30 s chair stand test and the 30 s arm curl test under dual-task conditions; (2) analyze the test–retest reliability of a new variable which assesses the total performance (cognitive + physical) in both tests. A total of 37 women with fibromyalgia participated in the study. Participants completed the 30 s arm curl test and 30 s chair stand test in both simple and dual-task conditions. These tests were repeated after seven days. In the 30 s chair stand dual-task test the reliability was low to good whereas that of the total performance variable was low to moderate. The reliability in both the 30 s arm curl dual-task test and the total performance variable were good to moderate. Both the 30 s chair stand test and 30 s arm curl test under dual-task conditions and the total performance variables had good test–retest reliability. However, it is necessary to consider the fluctuations of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 5813
Author(s):  
Antonio Cobo ◽  
Elena Villalba-Mora ◽  
Rodrigo Pérez-Rodríguez ◽  
Xavier Ferre ◽  
Walter Escalante ◽  
...  

The present paper describes a system for older people to self-administer the 30-s chair stand test (CST) at home without supervision. The system comprises a low-cost sensor to count sit-to-stand (SiSt) transitions, and an Android application to guide older people through the procedure. Two observational studies were conducted to test (i) the sensor in a supervised environment (n = 7; m = 83.29 years old, sd = 4.19; 5 female), and (ii) the complete system in an unsupervised one (n = 7; age 64–74 years old; 3 female). The participants in the supervised test were asked to perform a 30-s CST with the sensor, while a member of the research team manually counted valid transitions. Automatic and manual counts were perfectly correlated (Pearson’s r = 1, p = 0.00). Even though the sample was small, none of the signals around the critical score were affected by harmful noise; p (harmless noise) = 1, 95% CI = (0.98, 1). The participants in the unsupervised test used the system in their homes for a month. None of them dropped out, and they reported it to be easy to use, comfortable, and easy to understand. Thus, the system is suitable to be used by older adults in their homes without professional supervision.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gautam Adusumilli ◽  
Solomon Eben Joseph ◽  
Michael A Samaan ◽  
Brooke Schultz ◽  
Tijana Popovic ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Performance tests are important to characterize patient disabilities and functional changes. The Osteoarthritis Research Society International and others recommend the 30-second Chair Stand Test and Stair Climb Test, among others, as core tests that capture two distinct types of disability during activities of daily living. However, these two tests are limited by current protocols of testing in clinics. There is a need for an alternative that allows remote testing of functional capabilities during these tests in the osteoarthritis patient population. OBJECTIVE Objectives are to (1) develop an app for testing the functionality of an iPhone’s accelerometer and gravity sensor and (2) conduct a pilot study objectively evaluating the criterion validity and test-retest reliability of outcome variables obtained from these sensors during the 30-second Chair Stand Test and Stair Climb Test. METHODS An iOS app was developed with data collection capabilities from the built-in iPhone accelerometer and gravity sensor tools and linked to Google Firebase. A total of 24 subjects performed the 30-second Chair Stand Test with an iPhone accelerometer collecting data and an external rater manually counting sit-to-stand repetitions. A total of 21 subjects performed the Stair Climb Test with an iPhone gravity sensor turned on and an external rater timing the duration of the test on a stopwatch. App data from Firebase were converted into graphical data and exported into MATLAB for data filtering. Multiple iterations of a data processing algorithm were used to increase robustness and accuracy. MATLAB-generated outcome variables were compared to the manually determined outcome variables of each test. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (PCCs), Bland-Altman plots, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard errors of measurement, and repeatability coefficients were generated to evaluate criterion validity, agreement, and test-retest reliability of iPhone sensor data against gold-standard manual measurements. RESULTS App accelerometer data during the 30-second Chair Stand Test (PCC=.890) and gravity sensor data during the Stair Climb Test (PCC=.865) were highly correlated to gold-standard manual measurements. Greater than 95% of values on Bland-Altman plots comparing the manual data to the app data fell within the 95% limits of agreement. Strong intraclass correlation was found for trials of the 30-second Chair Stand Test (ICC=.968) and Stair Climb Test (ICC=.902). Standard errors of measurement for both tests were found to be within acceptable thresholds for MATLAB. Repeatability coefficients for the 30-second Chair Stand Test and Stair Climb Test were 0.629 and 1.20, respectively. CONCLUSIONS App-based performance testing of the 30-second Chair Stand Test and Stair Climb Test is valid and reliable, suggesting its applicability to future, larger-scale studies in the osteoarthritis patient population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 205031212091035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaynor Parfitt ◽  
Dannielle Post ◽  
Alison Penington ◽  
Kade Davison ◽  
Megan Corlis

Objectives: Regular physical activity for older adults as they age is important for maintaining not only physical function but also independence and self-worth. To be able to monitor changes in physical function, appropriate validated measures are required. Reliability of measures such as the timed-up-and-go, five-repetition sit-to-stand, handgrip strength, two-minute walk, 30-second sit-to-stand, and four-metre walk has been demonstrated; however, the appropriateness of such measures in a population of adults living with dementia, who may be unable to follow instructions or have diminished physical capacity, is not as well quantified. This study sought to test modified standard protocols for these measures. Methods: Modification to the standard protocols of the timed-up-and-go, five-repetition sit-to-stand, handgrip strength, two-minute walk, 30-second sit-to-stand, and four-metre walk was trialled. This occurred through modification of procedural components of the assessment, such as encouraging participants to use their hands to raise themselves from a seated position, or the incorporation of staged verbal cueing, demonstration, or physical guidance where required. The test–retest reliability of the modified protocols was assessed using Pearson’s correlation, and performance variances were assessed using the %coefficient of variation. Intraclass correlations were included for comparisons to previous research and to examine measurement consistency within three trials. Results: At least 64% of the population were able to complete all measures. Good test–retest reliability was indicated for the modified measures (timed-up-and-go = 0.87; five-repetition sit-to-stand = 0.75; handgrip strength = 0.94; two-minute walk = 0.87; the 30-second sit-to-stand = 0.93; and the four-metre walk = 0.83), and the %coefficient of variation (7.2%–14.8%) and intraclass correlation (0.77–0.98) were acceptable to good. Conclusion: This article describes the methodology of the modified assessments, presents the test–retest statistics, and reports how modification of the current protocols for common measures of physical function enabled more older adults living with dementia in a residential aged care facility to participate in assessments, with high reliability demonstrated for the measures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1859-1868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Karalija ◽  
Lars Jonassson ◽  
Jarkko Johansson ◽  
Goran Papenberg ◽  
Alireza Salami ◽  
...  

In vivo dopamine D2-receptor availability is frequently assessed with 11C-raclopride and positron emission tomography. Due to low signal-to-noise ratios for 11C-raclopride in areas with low D2 receptor densities, the ligand has been considered unreliable for measurements outside the dopamine-dense striatum. Intriguingly, recent studies show that extrastriatal 11C-raclopride binding potential (BPND) values are (i) reliably higher than in the cerebellum (where D2-receptor levels are negligible), (ii) correlate with behavior in the expected direction, and (iii) showed good test–retest reliability in a sample of younger adults. The present work demonstrates high seven-month test–retest reliability of striatal and extrastriatal 11C-raclopride BPND values in healthy, older adults (n = 27, age: 64–78 years). Mean 11C-raclopride BPND values were stable between test sessions in subcortical nuclei, and in frontal and temporal cortices (p > 0.05). Across all structures analyzed, intraclass correlation coefficients were high (0.85–0.96), absolute variability was low (mean: 4–8%), and coefficients of variance ranged between 9 and 25%. Furthermore, regional 11C-raclopride BPND values correlated with previously determined 18F-fallypride BPND values (ρ = 0.97 and 0.92 in correlations with and without striatal values, respectively, p < 0.01) and postmortem determined D2-receptor densities (including striatum: ρ = 0.92; p < 0.001; excluding striatum: ρ = 0.75; p = 0.067). These observations suggest that extrastriatal 11C-raclopride measurements represent a true D2 signal.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 663-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cody L. Sipe ◽  
Kevin D. Ramey ◽  
Phil P. Plisky ◽  
James D. Taylor

Testing balance and fall risk with older adults of varying abilities is of increasing importance. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the lower quarter Y-balance test (YBT-LQ) in older adults. A secondary aim was to provide estimates of reliability with this population. A total of 30 male (n = 15) and female (n = 15) subjects (66.8 ± 6.5 years) performed the YBT-LQ, 30-s chair stand test, 8-foot up and go test, timed up and go test, single-leg stance, and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale questionnaire. The YBT-LQ was performed on two separate occasions by two investigators in random order. YBT-LQ was significantly correlated with age (p < .01), timed up and go test (p = .003), 8-foot up and go test (p < .001), 30-s chair stand test (p < .001), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (p = .002), and single-leg stance (p = .005) performance. The intraclass correlation coefficient(3,1) score for the reliability of the YBT-LQ was .95 (95% confidence interval [.89, .97]). The YBT-LQ appears to be a valid and reliable assessment to use with older adults.


2020 ◽  
Vol 05 (04) ◽  
pp. 109-113
Author(s):  
Maria Tsekoura ◽  
Konstantinos Anastasopoulos ◽  
Alexandros Kastrinis ◽  
Zacharias Dimitriadis

he most frequently employed versions of the sit-to-stand test (STST) are the 5 times STSΤ and the 30 seconds STST. However, it is not known whether a variation with different number of repetitions or time could be more appropriate for older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability of STST at different time points and number of repetitions. The test was performed in 33 older adults (73±6.1 years) for 40 seconds. The participants performed the procedure twice with a day interval between the sessions. The test was video-taped and the data were processed by two examiners. The highest test-retest reliability was found for the 4th (ICC=0.73, SEM=1.48, SDD=1.68), 5th (ICC=0.76, SEM=1.73, SDD=1.97) and 6th repetition (ICC=0.78, SEM=1.78, SDD=2.03). The inter-rater reliability was excellent independently of the number of trials (ICC>0.9). The correlation of the time at the 4th and 6th repetition with the time at the traditionally selected 5th repetition was excellent (r>0.9). The termination of the STST at the 4th repetition seems to provide equally reliable and valid estimations with the termination at the 5th repetition. Future studies should examine a 4 times STST since the reduction of the number of repetitions may be less tiring and safer for older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (20) ◽  
pp. 2828-2835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanife Mehmet ◽  
Angela W. H. Yang ◽  
Stephen R. Robinson

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